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How many times have you preferred the “Sign in with Google” or “Continue with Google” options over a traditional sign-up? Over 3 billion people use Google Workspace. These buttons are now a common way to access the SaaS apps we use daily.
For employees, it’s all about simplicity—no new passwords to remember, no tedious account setups. With just a single click, they can dive straight into the tools they need. But for IT teams, it’s a different story. Every app linked to a business Google account brings more risk. It can lead to shadow IT, which means tools are used without IT knowing or approving them.
This lack of visibility causes problems. It makes it tough to secure data, keep up with compliance, and control your organization’s SaaS ecosystem. That’s where JumpCloud comes in. With its Google Workspace connector, JumpCloud SaaS Management bridges the gap between flexibility for employees and visibility for IT teams.
Discover Use Cases and Capabilities
When an employee signs up for a new AI tool, for example, using their Google account, it may seem harmless at a first glance. However, without IT’s knowledge, the tool could easily bypass your organization’s security protocols or violate company policies regarding AI usage and data permissions.
Employees might accidentally give Google OAuth permissions that risk sensitive data. This can happen if the SaaS apps they use aren’t checked for security and compliance. It gets more complicated when they use these tools on different devices, such as mobile phones and tablets.
JumpCloud SaaS Management uses its browser plugin by default to discover SaaS usage in your organization. However, SaaS activity across mobile devices is not directly monitored with it. By complementing it with the Google Workspace integration, you can gain visibility into which apps are accessed through employees’ Google accounts regardless of their device type.
Let’s take a closer look at how JumpCloud SaaS Management simplifies SaaS discovery and management with its Google Workspace connector.
1. Flip the Switch on Shadow IT
90% of SMEs are concerned about shadow IT, and 38% of respondents say they can’t discover all applications in use at all.
Imagine walking into a room with the lights flickering on and off—you’d struggle to see what’s there, let alone navigate safely. For many IT teams, managing a SaaS environment without real-time data feels just like that: blindspots, incomplete information, and constant uncertainty.
With the Google Workspace connector, JumpCloud flips the switch. The app discovery data syncs every 30 minutes. It also listens for real-time usage updates. This way, IT admins always see their current SaaS stack and are never left in the dark.
IT teams can spot shadow IT by tracking new apps employees use with their Google accounts. They can also notice unusual spikes in usage. This helps them address security gaps and avoid extra costs.
2. From Historical to Real-Time Sign-Up Data
When the connector syncs with your Google Workspace tenant, it doesn’t just start fresh; it goes back in time. Historical sign-up data is synced immediately, giving IT teams a full audit of all SaaS apps tied to employee accounts. This eliminates the need for painstaking manual data collection and provides an instant snapshot of your organization’s SaaS inventory.
From there, the connector stays on, refreshing app discovery data in frequent intervals. Now that you can see both the past and present, you can manage your SaaS environment with full context. There are no blind spots or surprises.
3. Manage BYOD SaaS Activity
Over 80% of organizations use BYOD today.
Balancing security and productivity in a BYOD (bring your own device) workplace is no small task. With employees using personal devices to access SaaS tools—often through their Google accounts—IT teams face fragmented usage patterns that are difficult to monitor and secure. This lack of oversight can expose your business to shadow IT, compliance risks, and potential data breaches.
Tracking SaaS activity using a browser extension works well on desktops. However, monitoring on mobile devices and tablets can be tricky.
With the Google Workspace integration JumpCloud SaaS Management enables IT teams to track logins through Google accounts across all devices, including those that might not be directly monitored with the browser extension. JumpCloud combines these discovery methods to give you a complete view of your organization’s SaaS usage. It works no matter the device or location.
How It Works
JumpCloud’s Google Workspace connector integrates directly with your organization’s Google Workspace environment to provide deeper visibility into SaaS activity. It automatically detects all logins, user accounts, including service accounts, user permissions and their access levels.
Once SaaS apps are discovered, IT admins can quickly take action for employees using an unauthorized tool:
- Automated warnings
- Blocking access to the unauthorized app
- Alternative app suggestions
This is just one of the multiple SaaS discovery methods JumpCloud offers. Beyond Google Workspace, JumpCloud empowers IT teams with browser-based discovery and a dozen other native connectors like Microsoft Entra ID, GitHub, and Atlassian.
You can also manually add apps to your SaaS inventory. This helps you monitor, secure, and optimize apps that JumpCloud hasn’t discovered yet, as well as internal and private apps.
Ready to See It in Action?
Don’t let unmonitored SaaS usage and shadow IT derail your security and compliance efforts. Take the next step toward simplifying SaaS management while supporting your team’s productivity. Start with a free trial or book a demo today.
